NOW I KNOW
Suggested Reading: Daniel 3-4
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Jewish historian Josephus called this a "most magnificent palace" that Herod the Great built on a promontory jutting out into the water. The pool in the centre was nearly Olympic in size and was filled with fresh water. A statue once stood in the centre. Paul may have been imprisoned on the grounds of this palace (Acts 23:35). Caesarea Maritima is a national park on Israel's coastline. These ruins are a monument to the fourth empire in Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Rome (Daniel 2:40). The two young Israelis in the picture have probably heard of Daniel's prophecies in Hebrew Bible studies, which continue throughout all the years of formal education in Israel.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Daniel 3:17-18
If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.
King Nebuchadnezzar, in today’s reading, is progressing toward an understanding that there is only One true God. In chapter two he confesses, “Truly your God is the God of gods” (Daniel 2:47). All four emperors in Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream thought they were gods to be worshipped. Today’s reading (Daniel 3), describing the image of Nebuchadnezzar made of gold and his command to worship his idol, shows that he was probably the most proud one of them all. After the miracle of the preservation of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace, the king moved another step closer to the truth. This time he confesses, “There is no other god who can deliver like this” (Daniel 3:29b). Nevertheless, he still believes there are other gods.
In Daniel 4 we read of another dream and another interpretation by Daniel. Babylonian records have a seven-year blank in the history of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. He lost his mind for that period of time, and then he recorded his return to sanity (Daniel 4:34) with these words, “My understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honoured Him who lives forever!” He reassumed his throne and confessed, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the God of Heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. Those who walk in pride He is able to abase (Daniel 4:37).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, You are the one and only God! I pray that you will reveal to me more and more of Who You are. As the book of Hebrews tells me, the one “who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6b). So I come to You and ask for the reward of knowing You with greater understanding (my mind) and deeper experience (my heart). I pray this in the Name of the One who is in Himself, “the Image of the invisible God!” Jesus Christ (Messiah). Amen!!! (read Colossians 1:15-22).
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I grew up listening to Bible stories. In grade 7 I did a huge mural on the wall of our classroom featuring the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was one of those wonders. In my imagination I saw Nebuchadnezzar proudly strutting along the parapets of the gardens saying, “Is not this great Babylon I have built…” (Daniel 4:30a) and then humbled for the seven years of mental collapse, roaming around those gardens eating grass. I’ve since discovered that while much of Babylon has been excavated by archeologists, there is no evidence that such a garden ever existed. Of course, it’s in the writings of the later Greek authors, not in the Bible. In this blog I’ve quoted the words of King Nebuchadnezzar, recorded in the Bible, about his understanding of the true God. I want to invite you to consider the words of a prayer by a present-day ruler, President Museveni of Uganda. Many Ugandan leaders believe that the “Unity” message of the “World Embrace” ministry featured in this blog yesterday is an answer to their leader’s prayer (click here for his prayer, the audio is indistinct, but the words are written so we can read his prayer). The former dictator, Idi Amin, who murdered huge numbers of his own people, was Muslim, and today Uganda is holding back the tide of Islam that threatens to engulf the rest of Africa. Let us pray fervently for the Ugandan people and its president.
Yours with the prayer that more and more world leaders will acknowledge the true God!!!
David
P.S. Please don’t think of Uganda as a collection of mud and grass huts. Its cities are modern and its government apparatus very sophisticated. Below is a photo taken in the capital city of Kampala, population 1.2 million.
In yesterday's blog I referred to "Four Good Men" that had a fish dinner ?with us (they helped catch the fish), who remind me of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. From left to right, their names are David (my grandson), Sam, Jaques and Caleb. They are all students at Southeasern University.
What a great prayer God needed to hear this . Thank you Renold for the photo
of Kampala I only new of the later with grass huts it is a buslting city I now look at
it in a different way. Thank you David, Ann and Ron for all you do for getting this
blog going and the dedicatio God bless you.
Lianne Hogg
I have never heard a prayer said with so much conviction and deliberateness from a national leader as prayed by President Museveni ! The timing of World Embrace is as a tool from our Lord, to carry out this new direction vision in unity and power over past demise. The cry’s and cheers of those responding, emphasize the scars of anguish and despair on the Uganda people, moving towards a new hope, peace and prosperity found in the unity of Jesus Christ. Such a beacon of light and regeneration of spirit! May World Embrace serve to continue to inspire and rise up leadership and the assurances of hope and restoration throughout Uganda in Jesus’ name, Amen!
AMEN David!!
Amen to that brother! Tears were in my eyes as I listened to his powerful prayer…
Praise and Glory to our Heavenly Father! AMEN!
Father God, Inspire the leaders of all nations, be it, from the cradle, on into the government of the nations, give them faith as little children. Who am I that the God of the universe would listen to me, but you say that you do. Intervene Lord in the world that seems so distant from you. Open the eyes of the people Lord open their ears so that we, we, yes we can see and hear you. Shout loud Lord some of us are deaf, others of us are blind. Some times I feel both, deaf and blind.
Amen
how can I yes me become more aware of God’s presence
Yes, God is blessing Uganda, and please continue to bless, Lord. Amen. What a comeback from Idi Amin days which was just taking place when I was over there in Kenya, and was hearing the testimonies of the people’s horror. I have heard of many good works that have taken place there, and now of World Embrace. Praise God! Have a great day!
How wondeful. I tended to think of many African countries as behind the west in modern things and I was surprised to see the president using a Tablet or Ipod thing! My daughter has been to Uganda in Christian ministry – i would love to go. Happy message today. 3 of my 4 sons went to Christian Universities – 1 in Oklahoma, 1 in Kanses, and 1 in Ancaster. One is a PEng from U of Toronto. They had wonderful opportunities! Our daughter is an RN with overseas training. She got a medal from the Prmier for her work in Cambodia & there is a scholarship available in her name for nurses studying overseas nursing.
Father God as in the days of King Nebuchadnezzar YOU are still in control !!
What wonderful faith and reassurance Daniel had to even open his mouth around such a nasty, impetuous king as the king of Babylon before he came to his senses. I pray for such a strong faith.
Love the pics, especially of the young gentlemen looking so full of hope and happiness. I pray their faith will be or is as strong as Daniel’s.
God bless us all on this Wednesday.
Much to our surprise, God is in control of this INTERNET as well as every thing else in this universe. I will not be surprised when I get to heaven and I find out that satin has know idea what is going on when it comes to computers.
AMEN.
Praying fervently for the Ugandan people and President Museveni. In agreement that the “Unity” message of the “World Embrace” ministry is answering President Museveni’s prayer for the people and nation of Uganda, a year and a half after he prayed it with them. Praise God! Thank You, Lord, for using the Mainse family as you have to help bring about this truly profound miracle, and many others, surely to follow!!!
Thank You, Father God, for allowing us to be reconciled in Your Son, our precious redeemer, Jesus Christ. “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Col 1:19-20
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
Psalm 33:12 (NKJV)
God’s continued blessings, today, dear fellow saints!
Over the past 6 months I received an email of the cities of Africa!!
Mostly the southern regions I’m sure!! Skyscrapers and such, very beautiful!!
Why don’t they help their own people who have no clean water!! Obviously these cities are rich in wealth!! Very disturbing that they keep accepting help from Canada!! We have our own homeless poor also!!
Not that I begrudge the help, just wondering???
Nancy xoxoxo
Dear Rev. David M.
So generous of you to share pictures of four handsome , vigorous young fellows that I will keep in prayer . May the Lord keep them under His protection , may they be filled with a love for Christ that has no border, guided by the Holy Spirit every step of the way. Amen.
I was so moved by president of Uganda Musevenis prayer . Will be making a point to copy every word of his prayer and will be sharing it with my church and many other churches around me . This prayer can actually also be done for every country in the world including Canada . We are all sadly in need of daily repent for the darkness that is all around us , and that I pray in Jesus name Amen.
Have a blessed day everyone
xxxx Carole.
I wanted the written prayer myself, Carole. Here it is:
Uganda’s Dedication & Covenant with God
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda
October 8, 2012
Father God in heaven, today we stand here as Ugandans, to thank You for Uganda. We are proud that we are Ugandans and Africans. We thank You for all Your goodness to us.
I stand here today, to close the evil past and especially in the last fifty years of our national leadership history and at the threshold of a new dispensation in the life of this nation. I stand here on my own behalf and on behalf of my predecessors to repent. We ask for Your forgiveness.
We confess these sins, which have greatly hampered our
national cohesion and delayed our political, social and economic transformation.
We confess sins of idolatry and witchcraft which are rampant in our land. We confess sins of shedding innocent blood, sins of political hypocrisy, dishonesty, intrigue and betrayal.
Forgive us of sins of pride, tribalism and sectarianism; sins of laziness, indifference and irresponsibility; sins of corruption and bribery that have eroded our national resources; sins of sexual immorality, drunkenness and debauchery; sins of unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred and
revenge; sins of injustice, oppression and exploitation; sins of rebellion, insubordination, strife and conflict.
These sins and many others have characterized our past leadership, especially the last fifty years of our history. Lord
forgive us and give us a new beginning. Give us a heart to love You, to fear You, and to seek You. Take away from us all the above sins.
We pray for national unity. Unite us as Ugandans and eliminate all forms of conflict, sectarianism and tribalism. Help us to see that we are all your children, children of the same Father. Help us to love and respect one another and to
appreciate unity in diversity.
We pray for prosperity and transformation. Deliver us from ignorance, poverty and disease. As leaders, give us wisdom to help lead our people into political, social and economic transformation.
We want to dedicate this nation to you so that you will be our God and guide. We want Uganda to be known as a nation that fears God and as a nation whose foundations are firmly rooted in righteousness and justice to fulfill what the Bible says in Psalm 33:12: Blessed is the nation, whose God is the Lord. A people you have chosen as your own.
I renounce all the evil foundations and covenants that were laid in idolatry and witchcraft. I renounce all the satanic influence on this nation. And I hereby covenant Uganda to you, to walk in your ways and experience all your blessings forever.
I pray for all these in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dear Beverlee,
Thank you so much for your kind gesture!
Just came back from church and, coincidentally, half an hour before I left, my daughter found the speech on Youtube! And, with our pastor, we all spent time praying about this prayer, including Canada and the rest of the world.
God bless you, dear sister in Christ!
xxxCarole
Thank you for the prayer ~~~~ I could not bring it up on my computer ~~ I have to work on that. We all need to pray~ repent~ all our nations , all our communities, all our families
all of us as individuals, for all the darkness, times when we did not shine our light
the light of Christ.. We have all come short of the glory of GOD. Forgive us Lord
HELP us repent Please show us as individuals how we can do our part to bring our nations closer to you.